Car unloader nozzle



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June 19, 1945. P. R. HORNBROOK CAR UNLOADER' NOZZLE Flled Oct 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Shee't l June 19, 1945 P. R. HORNBROOK CAR UNLOADER NOZZLE Filed Oct. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rm 0 flak/madam $54 M away 4M; I t 'abtqww:

' June 19, 1945.

P., R. HORNBROOK CAR UNLOADER NOZZLE Filed Oct. 20 1943 3 Sheets-Shest-3 Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED srA ss PATENT OFFICE can Nozzm Philip R. Hornbrook, Allentown. Pa., assignorto Fuller Company, tion of Delaware Catasaui ua, Pa., a corpora- Application 0ctober20, 1943, Serial No. 506,961

14 Claims.

- through a conduit to a desired point.

- In the unloading of line material, such, for

example, as silica flour, it is both wasteful and objectionable merely to dump the material, since dust clouds are raised which entail loss of the material and settling of the dust over a considerable area. Such and, where machinery is involved, may cause considerable damage. Also, in confined spaces,.

the presencefof dust of certain materials gives rise to the danger of an explosion. As it is, fredeposited dust is unsightly,

of th material from cars by dumping results in quenlg: necessary to reship the material, removal a loss ach time it is handled.

The present invention'is directed to the provision offla novel device by which iinelyndivided material, such as silica flour and the like, may L be removed from a hopper 'i'aottom car and conveyed to a delivery pointadjacent to or remote from the car without loss of the material by the forination of dust,cl0uds, by spillage, or as a result of receptacle or storage retention. The new device is portable and it is so constructed that'it may be readily attached to the car, adjusted for operation, and removed in a very short time.

The unloader of the invention comprises a body member or, structure which is so formed at the top that it will fit the hopper bottom of a car, and may be clamped thereto, and preferably means,

\ The device walls [8 and ,H, s

and end walls are downwardly convergent inner such as a cloth bellows, are provided for connecting the top of the body to the lower end of the hopper to prevent escape of the materials The 1 body includes outer side and .end walls, and a bottom, and within it are inner walls, some of which converge to define a receptacle. Certain of the inner walls define an outlet chamber opening from the interior of the receptacle and a'conduit extends through one of the end walls of the body into thechamber and has an open end lying'near the bottom of the body. In the operation or the device, the conduit is connected to a region of subatmospheric pressure and the inrush of atmospheric air into the conduit entrains the fine materlal at the mouth of the conduit'and conveys it through the conduit to a delivery point. Jam'- ming of the material at the open end of the conduit is prevented by means of suitable roof and other walls and accessto the interior of thereceptacle to permit bridges of material to be broken up is afforded through an opening provided with a removable cover. The rate of flow of material into the conduit is controlled by admitting air generally at riglit angles into the interior of the body and the receptacie through an opening which may be shut off to the desired extent by suitable means, such as a sliding door.

The new unloader ordinarily comprises two body members mounted on a skid frame and adjustable lengthwise of the frame to permit them to be properly positioned with reference to the hoppers on a car. The use of two such members strengthens the assembly and permits the apparatus to be made of relatively light materials.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying draw? ings,inwhich s Fig. 1 is a plan view of an unloader of the inventlon which includes a pair of receptacles;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-,-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of the device in side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the receptacles of the device with parts omitted; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a clamping means that may be employed on the device. I illustrated in the drawings includes IQ of generally rectangular shape a body member l2, end walls l3, [4,

formed with side walls II, and a bottom i5. Extending wardly from the side walls Hand [2 are top respectively. Within the side want in, i9, and 20 which lead to the bottom I5 and with it, define a well or receptacle. A vertical wall 2| extends upward from the bottom along one side thereof and another vertical wall 22, lying spaced from wall 2|, extends upward from the sloping 'wall 18. The walls 2|, 22 and the bottom I5 in part open at one end to the interior of the receptacle and at the other to the space beneath walls l8,

l9, and 20. Entrance into the outlet chamber directlyv from above is restricted by downwardly extending walls 24 and 25 which lie, respectively, and parallel to wall 22.

The sloping top wall I8 is connected to the sloping inner wall l9 by a fiat top wall 26 and a similar flat top wall 21 extends inwardly from the upper edge of the sloping top wall l1. Walls 24 and 25 extend downward from the fiat top wall 21.

lar bodies of, the construction described and they lie end to end and with their wells or receptacles in reversed relation so thatthe portions of their bottom walls 15 exposed from above lie at oppoupwardly and in-.

define an outlet chamber 23 The apparatus disclosed includes two rectangu- 1 and bearing gainst -may be necessary in upwardly and connec tight Joint. Ifthe position beneath the skid frame a 2 aars Conduit 28 extends through openings ll in the Y end walls I3, I! of one body and through an open-' ing in wall ll of the second body. The end of the conduit lies in the outlet chamber 23 or the second receptacle close to the bottom ll thereof. The other conduit 29 extends through an opening in the end wall it oi the first body to terminate within the outlet-chamber thereof. I The conduits flt closely in the Openings through the end walls of the bodies.

The-end wall 14 of eachbody is provided with an opening 3| for admission of air into the space within the body beneath the co vergent walls II.' It, and 20. Air entering this space may flow into the outlet chamber 23 around the outside of the conduit therein and the flow of air is controlled by an adjustable door 32 slidable in guides 83 along the sides of opening I Lthedoor being held in any desired position by suitable locking means, indicated at 34. A blast opening. 38 is formed in the sloping top wall I 1 of each body and by opening the door, air may be introduced into the over and does not flow. The opening II is normally closed by a door w3i slidable in suitable guides by means of a handle 49. s

Conduits 28 and II are connected to a region. of reduced pressure so that, in the operation of the device, atmospheric air will enter the ends of the conduits and p then be carried out through the conduits. Each conduit is provided with lugs l'l through which pass adjustment screws 3| provided withnuts II" the adjacent wall I! of one bridge over or 20 nected to the car, and also entrain material which will 30 from the hopper, sai

the air enters the open: ends of conduits 28, 2!

entraining with it the finely divided material dis charged into the body. By adjusting the size or the openings SI and the positions of the ope] ends of the conduits within their outlet 1 1 her: the best conveying conditions are obed, am as the material is carried away from the recepta' cles, more material is discharged into them iron Should'the material at any timi failto flow properly in a receptacle. the handle 49 controlling 'thefdoor of th blast opening of the body is moved back and forth a few times to admit blasts of air which I will break the brid Bed material. By the use of the new apparatus, a hopper car can be emptied quickly without dust clouds, spilla8e,,retention oi the material in the car, danger of explosion, or unnecessary handling. The device can be quickly placed in position and conquickly removed, and when in position, the device can be made ready for conveying with little adjustments of the parts.

I claim: i l. Mechanism'ior un a hopper-bottom car. 0 having/a wellexten L thereof, said body member being adapted to be j so connected to a hopper; bottom that the'well therein will receive material "directly as it flows d body also having an open ing adJac'ent thebottom of' 's'aid well,,'1neans within the well shielding said opening, and a conduit adapted to be connected to a source of reduced pressure and having an open end adjacent the loading fine material from omprising a body member of the bodies. These-parts permit endwise lid-. opening-in the well. A

iustment or the conduits to place their intake .2 Mechanism for unloading flnematerial from ends in proper position withincthe outlet chama hopper bottom car comprising a body member bers v v A flange 40 extends around the upper edge of each body and serves for strengthening purposes and also as a means for attaching one end of a ows to the body. The other end'or. the

Y bellows is provided with a metal frame 42 whichof'the car ch is illussecure'd between apair oi passing throughslotslliin the skids. The skids are long enough to span the rails of a track of standard gauge and thel'slot and bolt connection or the bodies to the skids permits adjustment of the bodies on the skids, as the use or the device with cars ofdifl'erent constructions. At'one end of b the apparatus. the skids are connected by a handle ll and the other ends of the skids are ed F may be clamped to the bottom hopper by suitable clamps. one or whi trated at fl'in l'ig. 6.

The bodies II are skids M by bolts by a cross-bar 0 K In the use of the unroader. it is slid transversely, I under the car until one of the bodies "is properly 6 ldisposedbeneath one of the "car hoppers. The

frame 42 at the free end of is then clamped to the bellows of the body ithe hopper flange to make a second body Ilia not In proper the other hopper of the car-J sted to the correct position on nd its-bellows to the hopper flange. The conduits and 30 are next connected to a region of an tmospheric. pressure, as by conduits leading to receivers being exhausted." When these connections have een made, the hoppers are opened and the material that body is adju from the car dro'ps'into the receptacles in the bodies and enters the outlet chambers 23. The door 32 in each body is then opened to permit air to enter the outlet chamber of the and thereof," said bod so connected vto within the well shi member having a having; a well extending from the upper side y "member being adapted to be v a hopper bottom that the well therein will bottom of said wen, means elding .said opening,- said body valve means tocontrol the flow ofatmospheric air through said passage and into 8'. Mechanism for unloading fine material from -a hopper-bottom car comprising a body member having a, well extending from' the upper side thereof, said body member being adapted to be so connected to a hopper bottom that the well therein will receive material directly as it flows iron: the hopper. sa mg adiacent the 1 within the well ding saidopening, a conduit adapted to be conn so connected to therein will receive material directly as it flows pressure and having an open end extending into said well. a passage'foratmospheric air into said ing from the upper side' passage for air thereinto, and

said conduit.

id body also having an openttom of said well, means relative position of an end body member, and means for suddenly and intermittently augmenting the now of air into the open end of said conduit.

5. Mechanism for unloading fine material from a hopper-bottom car comprising a body member having. a well extending from the upper side cent the bottom of the well, and means for controlling the fiow of atmospheric air through said conduit.

6. Mechanism for unloading fine material from a hopper-bottom car comprising a body member having a 'well extending from the upper side thereof, said body member being adapted to be so connected to a hopper bottom that the well therein will receive material directly. as it flows from the hopper, said body also having an opening adjacent the bottom of said well, means within the well'shielding said opening, flexible means attached to upper edge portion and adapted to-be connected also having an opensaid body member around its bottom that the well reduced pressure and having an open end adjacentthe opening in said well, and means to control the fiow of atmospheric air to said conduit.

11'. The combination set forth in means within the well shielding said opening and assuring an even fiow'oi material therethrough. 12. Mechanism for unloading fine material from a hopper-bottom car comprising two spaced skids of a length greater than standard rail gauge,

each of said skids having a handle portion at one end and the opposite end upturned, two body members permanently mounted on said'skids,

each having a well extending from the upper side thereof and an opening adjacent the bottom of the well therein, a conduit for each body. member adapted to be connected 'toa source of reduced pressure, each conduit having an open end adjato a hopper bottom, whereby a substantially dustproof connection may be made between said body member and a hopper bottom.

'7. In means for unloading fine material from a hopper bottom car, a hollow rectangular body member having a depressed portion on its upper side formed by downwardly and inwardly sloping walls, the 'upper surface of said body member of said inwardly sloping walls, a shielding housing built around a portion of said opening, a

cent the opening in the well of one of said body members, means to control the flow of atmospheric air to the open end of eachcond-uit, and means adjustably bers readily can be adjusted,

13. Mechanism for unloading fine material from a hopper-bottom car comprising two spaced skidsof a length greater than standard rail gauge, each of said skids having a handle portion '-at one end and the opposite end upturned, two body members permanently mounted on said skids, each of said body members having a well extending from the upper side thereof and an opening adjacent the bottom of the well therein, a conduit adapted to be connected to a source of reduced pressure and having an open end adjacent the opening in the well of one of said body members, a second conduit supported by one of said body .'-members having an open end adjacent the open- ,having an opening therein adjacent the juncture conduit entering one end of said body member and having an end closely adjacent said opening,

and a controlled air inlet at the opposite end'of said body member for the admission lusting means associated" with said conduit and said body member and arranged-to adjust the the opening in said depressed portion whereby to maximize the entraining of said'ma'terlal.

9. The combination set forth in claim 'l, means for moving said conduit longitudinally of said of a desired quantity of air to said conduit to entrain said fine material.

8. The combination set forth in claim '7, ad-

of said conduit and 'ing in the well of the other body member, means for controlling the flow of atmospheric air to both of said conduits, and adjusting means mounted on said one of the body members for moving both conduits, independently, longitudinally-of said body members and adjusting their respective positions the respective wells 14. Mechanism of the body members. for unloading fine material from a hopper-bottom car comprising two spaced of reduced pressure, and each adjacent the opening in the well of one of said means attached to' the upper periphery of the cavity in said body member make a relatively dust proof connection between said body member and a hopper bottom;

10'. In means for a hopper bottom, greater than standard rail gauge, 'each of said skids having a handle portion at one end and the 'opposite end upturned, a body member permanently mounted on said skids and having a the upper -side thereof and an opening adjacent the bottom of said well, a be connected to a source of and constructed to unloading fine material from two spaced skids of alength made light in weigh skids of a length greater than standard rail gauge, each of saidskids having a handle portion at one end and the opposite end upturned, two body members permanently mounted on said skids, each of said body members having a well extending from the upper side thereof and an opening adjacent the bottom of the well therein, two conduits, each adapted to be connected to a source having anopen end body members, means to control the flow of atmospheric air to said conduits, said. skids hav-- ing slots making one of said body members relatively movable so that they may bespaced from one another a distance suitable to cause both of them to be properly and simultaneously positioned beneath the discharge openings of ahoppermembers coonerating, through their spaced relation and their connection with the skids, to reinforce and brace the skid assembly, whereby. the whole may be t and readfly portable.- PHILIP R. HORNBROOK.

claim- 1o,

connecting said body members whereby the distance between the two body memrelative to the openings in 

